Played with Wood for last 10 years

[UpTheT]

I'm finally giving up the wood racket and I'm pissed. I just can't compete against players of my own ability level anymore (6.0). My opponents’ serves are getting too big for me to handle with great success. My forehand return is above average but the backhand return is just too inconsistent when your dealing with a serve over 110 and swinging a 13.8 oz wood racket with a tiny head. I'm forced to play a block or slice to just the right spot on the court or I'm instantly on defense (Major Problem In Doubles). I've no problem winning my serve so I'm in the matches that I play- it just comes down to a couple break points that I'm not getting because of my inconsistent backhand return. This starting happening when all my peers switched from the Price Graphite Classics and Sampras Prostaffs to these new Hammers - Volki Flying V - 4 inch beam - 70 stiff - stick the racket out and pray rackets. Spray and Pray rackets have ruined the fun. Now I play the 5.5s with wood and use a new racket with 6.0 + players. When I take the new racket out of the bag I whisper "*****" to myself. No offense to all you new racket users. Using the new racket has allowed me to swing away on my backhand side with great success while the block and or slice return has actually become a weapon do to the added power from a new frame. I would rather we all go back to how it was.



Wood Racket That I use--- Maxly Fort -- Still have 12 brand new ones left.

New Racket -- Maxply McEnroe

 

[Grimjack]

I play 6.5 with a laminated palm frond. It lacks punch, but really helps with feel.

 

[BERDI4]

That's intersting. I never heard anyone actually using a wooden racquet. I remember when I used my Rossignol Strato I could hit my best topspin forehands and backhands. Nowadays the game is so fast that I wouldn't have enough time to swing with a heavy wooden racquet.

 

[Ed Lee]

Wooden Alternative

Have you considered using an upgrade over the Fort. I remember being in your situation when I was using my old Wilson Pro Staff (woodie), and everyone else was using mid or oversize racquets. I switched to a PK Golden Ace which offered more hitting area, had wood sandwiched between graphite and boron. At the time, it helped me a lot. Just a thought.

Good Luck.

Ed

 

[Brad Smith]

April Fool's Day is still a few days away. Looks like you were a little early on your attempt at humor -- probably because the lighter racket just swings too fast...

 

[Deuce]

Brad's got this one...

Playing against today's frames at the at 6.0 level with a standard wood frame, and competing...

Un-huh...

 

[Coda]

and he uses an 11 oz racket for 5.5's...

 

[Prince_of_Tennis]

My god...You have to joking...

 

[Mies]

My gf likes to play with wood too.......fortunately.

 

[Datacipher]

I play 6.5 with a laminated palm frond. It lacks punch, but really helps with feel.

ROFL
Good call.

 

[UpTheT]

Believe what you will. If I were playing baseline games I would not be able to compete. Thankfully I get to serve every other game. If Andy Roddick didn't get to serve he wouldn't be ranked in the top 50.

 

[Matt21]

Which is why Roddick (unless he develops a ground game or net game) will never hold #1 for a sustained period of time.

 

[6-0 6-0]

Any female comment on this?

 

[Brad Smith]

Your post doesn't make sense so it's either a joke or you can't think clearly.

You claim that you're holding serve easily using your wood racket, and that your actual problem is that you find it hard to break serve. Your reason -- playing against guys with "Spray and Pray" rackets that guys just "stick out and pray". Exactly how is that related to your service return? Are you suggesting that your 6.0 opponents are just "spraying and praying" their serves? Furthermore, are you suggesting that these same guys are serving better with these "4 inch beams" then they did with Prostaffs? That just doesn't make any sense. I've never served a heavier ball than with a 6.0 85 -- these "spray and pray" rackets just don't have the mass/stability to match.

 

[Prince_of_Tennis]

I call for shenanigans!!!!!

 

[UpTheT]

In short:
My ability to win my serve has nothing to do with my or their rackets-- I said it only to let you (the reader) know that I can stay in the match because of my serve. You assume my opponents can serve like I can, which they can't. By opponents I mean the people I have been playing against since I was 6. Mind you, they are all my friends and former college players. Out of the 7 of us I am by far the tallest at 6'3", which helps me greatly when serving. They evened the playing field when switching to the power rackets, which in turn put pressure on me.
Is their a big difference between wood and the new rackets? Yes and No.
If I have time to hit the ball get my weight on the front foot, then NO. With time I can hit a powerfull shot with as much spin as I would like. The problem is staying on offence. My opponents have an easier time hitting hard shots because they can do it when on their back foot, on the run or both. Try hitting a passing shot with a wood racket when you are deep on your backhand side and on your back foot.

Proof: I am now breaking serve at the same frequency as I did in the past.
The only problem I have now is a slight wrist pain that I didn't get with the wood.

 

[nViATi]

This thread is rather pointless. Then again, so is my reply.